Rivolta della Dignita - The New Gospel

Videostill von Thomas Eirich-Schneider

Director Milo Rau and political activist Yvan Sagnet create a modern passion story: a campaign for a more just society, and a film.

Six years ago, Pope Francis denounced the “globalization of indifference” in Lampedusa. The moment Italy criminalizes the rescue of people who are drowning, civil rights activists and believers unite and remember their social-revolutionary roots: What is left of Jesus’ message of salvation in times of global exploitation? What is left of the values of the Enlightenment and Christianity in the ‘Realpolitik’ of the EU? Led by political activist Yvan Sagnet, the “Rivolta della Dignità” is fighting for the rights of migrants who came to Europe across the Mediterranean to be enslaved on the tomato fields in southern Italy and to live in ghettos under inhumane conditions. Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, refugees and Europeans fight side by side for the right of all people to live in legality, self-determination and freedom of movement. Parallel to the campaign, a modern Passion of the Christ is staged, directed by Milo Rau. What would Jesus preach in the 21st century? Who would his disciples be? The director and his team return to the origins of the gospel and stage it as a passion play of an entire society. A manifesto of solidarity with the poorest, a revolt for a more just, humane world.

September 28, 2019, 3pm, Porta Pistola, Matera Entry into Jerusalem – Performance open to the public and film shooting

October 5, 2019, 11am, Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, Matera Condemnation and passion of Christ – Film shooting open to the public

October 6, 2019, 3pm, Parco Murgia, Matera Crucifixion of Christ – Film Shooting open to the public

The European idea is coming to an end. A policy of fear, exclusion and exploitation has replaced the principles of freedom, equality and human dignity to which the European Union unconditionally committed itself in its founding treaty.

For the sake of profit, European companies are destroying entire territories, forcing those who live there to flee and thereby creating millions of landless and homeless people. By speculating on land and natural resources and cornering markets, they are ruining the local producers. The victims of this global exploitation are being criminalized.

What is more, European governments cooperate with countries in which people are exposed to torture, slave labor and sex work. They stood idly by while over 30,000 people drowned in the Mediterranean. They accept that in the heart of Europe, millions of migrants are exploited for the production of cheap products. They deny them the right to self-determination, to fair jobs and thereby to the dignity to which all human beings are entitled.

Tolerated by the other member states of the European Union, the Italian Government has now even criminalized the rescue of people drowning. We say: a line has been crossed! We declare:

1. Freedom of movement is a human right. We demand a global right to travel and right of settlement inside and outside of Europe. One travel document for all human beings regardless of their origins!

2. Nobody is illegal. Anyone who sets foot on European soil must, upon arrival, have all rights as laid down in the European founding treaty.

3. All people must have access to adequate housing. Unused infrastructure and abandoned land are public property. We call for the occupation of this space!

4. Everyone has the right to humane working conditions and fair wages without any discrimination. We demand criminal prosecution of all companies that do not respect this principle, including their worldwide supply and production chains.

5. Product prices must reflect the fair value of labor. We object to the consumption of goods which is based on human exploitation – in Europe and throughout the world.

6. Human dignity is the dignity of nature. No more destructive monocultures, fertilisers and herbicides! Food production is not for profit but for the common good of present and future generations.

We declare all regulations and rules that counter the principles outlined here to be invalid. Solidarity instead of exclusion, justice instead of discrimination, sustainability instead of exploitation!

If we do not act now, we are complicit in the ongoing violation of human rights, the resulting calamity of millions and the irrevocable destruction of our planet.

Let us rise, in the name of human dignity and on behalf of the current and all future generations! For when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty!

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